Have you failed diets before?
Failed too many to count? Let's make this time around different! Follow
these tips to help you FINALLY make it to your goals.

1.
Think Positive!

Stop the name
calling. Many kids and teens call themselves fat, lazy, or
stupid. This does not help your weight loss efforts! The more
you say them (out loud or think them), the harder it will be to
lose weight. Instead, become a FRIEND to yourself. Compliment
yourself. Encourage yourself. Leave yourself reminders of how
cool you really are!

2. Set
Yourself Up to Win

Many kids and teens
try to lose lots of weight fast. Let's try something new. This
time, pick a few changes you would like to change about your
eating. And, choose things you know you CAN change! Here's an
example of the old way and the new way: Your old self would cut
your calories to 1200 or less per day and make a goal to work
out for 2 hours per day. These goals lasted only a few days. The
new you plans to cut your Mountain Dew consumption from 3 per
day to 1 per day. You also plan to go walking 10 minutes per
day. Which sounds like a plan you can stick with? New You wins
every time! And, over time the New You gets to the healthy
weight.

3. Be
Kind During the Tough Times

Being overweight
can be tough. Clothes do not always seem to fit. No one else
seems to look like you. And, friends sometimes act like enemies.
Looking and feeling different can make many kids and teens sad
or lonely. Sometimes, this leads them to eat. If this happens to
you, please be kind to yourself (see #1 if you have forgot
already)! Sometimes, the food and exercise plans do not happen.
Sometimes, you may not lose weight. No one is a "perfect" eater
or exerciser, so do not think you have to be too. After
overeating, do the next right thing. Try not to think
negative thoughts about it. Remind yourself that you are indeed
human. You will make mistakes. These mistakes do not have to
keep you from being the healthy you.

4. Be
Patient!

Quick weight loss
diets and products are everywhere! They seem to make weight loss
look so quick and easy. There are many of these diets and
products because none of them work. Do not believe what they
tell you! Real healthy weight loss takes time. A lot of time.
Think positive and take it one day at a time. Check out the
Success Stories on this website. There you will learn about many
kids and teens who have lost weight. They did it by being
patient and making small changes. I know you can too!

5. Seek
Support!

If you are having a
tough day or you do not know what you need to change with your
eating, the bulletin boards and chat room can help! Chat with
other kids and teens going through the same thing as you! They
get teased just like you. And they are trying to not eat
whenever they get bored after school. Coming by and getting to
know the other kids and teens can really help you motivate
yourself...and others too!